The storage facility in Allston where Rick Kosow stores his sneakers—all 1,000 pairs—is simply known as “the vault.” Black shoe boxes, filled mostly with pairs of Nike Air Jordans, tower over the few who are given a rare glimpse into the slightly claustrophobic, climate-controlled rooms.

The sneakers, some of which are valued at $5,000 or more, are an obsession for Kosow, as is his Sneaker Museum
, a website offering a virtual trip through his staggering collection. In addition to showing the collection, the museum hopes to educate that sneakers are more than athletic wear, they are also coveted works of art.